TAHN-suhlz
/ˈtɑnsəlz/
tonsils is pronounced TAHN-suhlz (/ˈtɑnsəlz/). Tonsils are the pair of soft lymphatic tissue masses at the back of the throat that participate in immune defense. They can become inflamed (tonsillitis) and are involved in filtering bacteria and aiding antibody production. The word itself denotes these structures and is used in medical and anatomical contexts, as well as in everyday discussions of throat health.
Tonsils are the pair of soft lymphatic tissue masses at the back of the throat that participate in immune defense. They can become inflamed (tonsillitis) and are involved in filtering bacteria and aiding antibody production. The word itself denotes these structures and is used in medical and anatomical contexts, as well as in everyday discussions of throat health.
"During a routine exam, the doctor noted enlarged tonsils."
"She complained of sore throat and swollen tonsils after a cold."
"Tonsils play a role in the immune system, especially in children."
US/UK/AU pronunciation centers on two syllables: /ˈtɒn.sɪlz/. The stress is on the first syllable. Begin with /t/ + /ɒ/ (as in 'lot') with rounded lips, then /n/, followed by /sɪl/ where the /ɪ/ is a short, lax vowel, then /z/ for the final voiced alveolar fricative. End with a light /l/ and syllable-final /z/. Keep the mouth relaxed and avoid turning the second syllable into /ˈtɒn.səlz/. Listen for the crisp /s/ start of the second syllable and the voiced /z/ at the end.
Common errors include merging into a single syllable (/ˈtɒnslz/ by losing the /ɪ/ and breaking the /l/), and pronouncing the second syllable with a tense vowel (/ˈtɒn.sɪlz/ with overemphasis). Another frequent issue is misplacing the /s/ and /z/ sounds, producing a hiss before the final voiced affricate. To correct: (1) clearly separate /n/ and /s/ so you land an explicit /s/ onset for the second syllable; (2) maintain a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable; (3) finish with a crisp /z/ rather than a voiceless /s/.
US, UK, and AU accents share /ˈtɒn.sɪlz/ in broad terms, but vowel qualities differ: US often uses /ɑ/ or a lax /ɒ/ depending on region; UK typically uses /ɒ/ with non-rhoticity affecting preceding r-lessness in neighboring words; AU typically leans toward /ɒ/ with slight vowel flattening. All variants maintain the two-syllable rhythm and final /lz/. The main variation is vowel quality in /ɒ/ and the voicing of the final consonant cluster in connected speech.
The difficulty comes from the two-syllable structure, the short lax vowel in the second syllable, and the transition from /n/ to /s/ before a voiced /z/. Coordinating alveolar sounds (/n/, /s/, /z/) with a smooth /t/ onset requires precise tongue placement and timing. People sometimes slur /n/ into /s/ or mispronounce the /z/ as /s/. Practicing with slow, precise enunciation helps you maintain voicing and avoid devoicing the final sound.
Yes. The stress pattern is fixed on the first syllable, producing a clear onset /t/ and a syllabic boundary before /sɪlz/. The second syllable uses /ɪ/ rather than a full vowel like /iː/, and the final /lz/ combination requires voicing, contrasting with a potential silent or voiceless ending in similar words. Keeping the /s/ and /z/ distinct helps maintain clarity in articulation.
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The word tonsil derives from Old English tonsill, tonsel, from Latin tonsilla, diminutive of tons/tooth, via Old French tonsille. The root relation is to tissue masses—historically the term was tied to the small rounded masses of tissue in the throat. The modern sense developed in medical literature during the Middle Ages and Renaissance as anatomy advanced, with the phrase tonsilla palatina (“palatine tonsil”) in Latin texts. Early English usage appears in medical treatises that described throat structures in humans and animals, and by the 17th–18th centuries, “tonsil” had become the standard term for the over-arching lymphoid tissue at the oropharyngeal boundary. The plural tonsils emerged to describe the paired organs, a usage that gained traction with broader clinical descriptions of throat infections, surgical indications (tonsillectomy), and anatomy education. In contemporary usage, “tonsils” often collocates with phrases like “enlarged tonsils,” “tonsillitis,” and “tonsillectomy.” The term remains tied to lymphoid tissue and immune function, though popular culture has also referenced them in discussions of throat health and pediatric medicine. First known use references are found in mid- to late-medieval medical glossaries, with more explicit anatomical descriptions appearing in 16th–18th century anatomical texts. The evolution reflects shifting understanding of the immune role of pharyngeal tonsils and the move from Latin to English in clinical language.
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Words that rhyme with "tonsils"
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